when i first faded from jws, i didn't know for sure whether it was the truth or not.
being raised in it, it is not so easy to abandon the years of indoctrination.
then, one day i decided: sh*t or get off the pot.
so, what is the TRUTH then? What are we to PROMOTE?
If I figure out what the TRUTH is, I'll offer to share what I've learned with others, as I share my incomplete understanding, opinions and beliefs with others now. Until then, I don't need to PROMOTE anything. If I promote something that turns out to be wrong, and I've convinced someone to believe in something that is actually false, what good deed have I done?
i apologize for this point, as if beating it to death, but folks, you don't have any witness friends!
there is no such thing.. does that sound extreme?
too radical?
Thanks, allelsefails. I agree. We liked working the rich neighborhoods because they were less likely to be home and less likely to talk to us if they were. Of course, we attributed that to them "having their paradise now."
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[endif] in combatting cult mind control, steve hassan writes:.
in principle, i am against banning cults from college campuses unless they expressly violate rules of conduct that every student organization is expected to follow.
Use of the word 'stupid' to describe cultists is factually correct.
You can't just whip out a dictionary and think you're going to win an argument with it!
(Can you believe someone on another message board told me that once?)
Seriously, I see your point. Based on the definition, it is tecnincally accurate. I would ask then, is it a helpful description? For those who have gotten out, we see the light, we don't need to feel any worse for having made poor decisions in the past. We know it, without the need for some smart alec on a message board to taunt us with it.
For those still in, it will only alienate them from listening to useful information and feed their persecution complex.
I told a friend last night about being in a cult. He said anyone who would accept a cult is a moron. If someone tried to tell him about some guy who was raised from the dead, his response would be "Zombie!" I didn't get to talk to him more after that, but I would have pointed out how he may be cynical about religious or mystical claims, but how could he be sure he would discern the difference between a legitmate business and a commercial cult? Or a legitmate learning experience and an educational cult? Or a legitimate political action group and a political cult?
For all of these, singling out a particular group and warning against them is unhelpful. With thousands of cults of different kinds actively recruiting members, it's ridiculous to expect to learn about every one. And unnecessary. Learning about unethical recruiting methods would help immensely. There's no need for instructors to even focus on religious cults.
this topic is being discussed on another forum i've begun attending and i wondered what jwn members think enhances well being and happiness.. a psycholgist who has studied the subject was surprised that money is not at the top of most people's lists - social support including family, friends and such networks occupies the top spot.
(no surprise then that this is the wts' ultimate disciplinary method).. what do you all think?.
what are some other ways of achieving and maintaining well being and happiness?.
The Buddhists teach that dissatisfaction is caused by desire. When we desire something to be other than the way it is now, we are unhappy. They teach that the way to eliminate dissatisfaction is to eliminate desire.
Personally, I think dissatisfaction is often caused by not understanding what we want. We think we want money, but really what we want may be security, a sense of acheivement or pleasure. I think that figuring out exactly what you want and devising a plan for the best way to acheive it is what makes one happy. I think the reason so many of us consider friends, family and our support system as vital to our happiness is that being able to talk about our feelings, goals and plans with them helps us better understand what we want and how to get it.
on the subject of health matters i was mentaly listing all the comman illnesses that the dubs lay claim to, most of the time this is self diagnosed and with no imput from a dr. in fact the comman story is that "the drs won't belive me!".
a large number of jw's i knew went and got tested for allergies, this was the big thing for years.
every single one of them turned out to be allgeric to the same stuff ( wheat, dairy, sugar) ... i should point out that they all went to the one "dr" for this, the "dr" in question had never had any medical training and had done only a basic course.
fibromyalgia
on the subject of health matters i was mentaly listing all the comman illnesses that the dubs lay claim to, most of the time this is self diagnosed and with no imput from a dr. in fact the comman story is that "the drs won't belive me!".
a large number of jw's i knew went and got tested for allergies, this was the big thing for years.
every single one of them turned out to be allgeric to the same stuff ( wheat, dairy, sugar) ... i should point out that they all went to the one "dr" for this, the "dr" in question had never had any medical training and had done only a basic course.
Irritible bowel sydrome
the great philospher wittgenstein said:.
"humor is not a mood but a way of looking at the world.
so if it is correct to say that humor was stamped out in nazi germany, that does not mean that people were not in good spirits, or anything of that sort, but something much deeper and more important".
Many Witnesses at one time had a particular Far Side comic on their fridge. The blob family who saw Jehovah's Witnesses coming to their door and said, "Quick! Everyone pretend to be bean bag chairs!" Witnesses are so starved for humor (and narcissistic about any reference to themselves) they latch onto any joke that mentions them.
thought i share a little bit of my world in hope you all will enjoy..... .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hknf9ccyqpq&fmt=.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7i7hk_dpan-beautiful_music.
He has the capacity of a 10 year old and he thought the devil was trying to get him. Who put that thought into his head?
when i first faded from jws, i didn't know for sure whether it was the truth or not.
being raised in it, it is not so easy to abandon the years of indoctrination.
then, one day i decided: sh*t or get off the pot.
Spike, rather than worship without knowledge, I'm taking time now to learn about many different religions and beliefs. This is one of the places where I do so.
when i first faded from jws, i didn't know for sure whether it was the truth or not.
being raised in it, it is not so easy to abandon the years of indoctrination.
then, one day i decided: sh*t or get off the pot.
I've been in multiple congregations and read much of the literature. I'm talking about all of it. I found that, not only is it not good or perfect, but it goes in direct contradiction to what the Bible says, even the NWT. I spent twenty years waiting on Jehovah and overlooking the "shortcomings" of my fellow JWs. When you examine what they are teaching and realize it is wrong, there is nothing left to wait for.
I've been in your position, and I respect your feelings and beliefs and the polite way you phrase them. But these are the conclusions I've drawn both through studying and experience. If you told me that the Catholic Church was the only true religion and that I should wait on Jehovah to fix the wrong things they teach and the bad behavior of its leaders, I would have no more reason to believe that than I do about the Witnesses.
